Sunday, August 30, 2015

Thanks to reader Coins 07 for highlighting the latest Macau lunar coins have been made available for order on the Singapore Mint website (images, specifications and pricing, release is the end of October). I previously covered the Macau Goat, Horse and Snake.

The 2016 Macau Monkey's are pictured below and come in Gold (7.78g) and Silver (1oz and 5oz).

The 1oz and 5oz Proof Silver Coins are sold by ballot due to their limited mintage and high level of demand. Interesting how commonplace the inclusion of peaches has been in lunar coin designs this year.

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For those interested in the Perth Mint proof releases, don't forget that the first wave of designs will be hitting the Perth Mint website early this coming week as detailed in another recent post:

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Perth Mint have released images and information about the upcoming 2016 Year of the Monkey Gold & Silver Bullion Coins. Here they are (click to enlarge):

I am quite pleased with the design. I didn't buy any of the bullion release lunar goats from Perth Mint, but I will be stocking up on more than a few of these. Release date for the bullion coins is not until October as per this schedule:

As I have said in the past, try and avoid any dealer price gouging, particularly on the silver 1oz bullion release which is mintage limited to 300,000 coins.

A number of investors have been burned by getting caught up in the hype and overpaying. I wrote in 2013:

Although I think the 1oz bullion coin from Perth Mint
is the best lunar coin to purchase (for future increase in value), I
only think it's only worth buying if you pay a reasonable premium today.
As it stands the standard A$10 premium on Perth Mint
1 ounce bullion coins (from the mint, there are volume breaks) is
higher than many other mints and 37% premium to spot price (A$26.75).
However, a lower premium circa $5-7 is usually possible given dealer
discounts.

Most Perth Mint
distributors have decided to increase the premium they charge customers
on the 1oz mintage limited horse simply because the demand is there. In
Australia thats resulted in a $11 (41%) premium ($1 over maximum Perth Mint premium direct, $4-6 over the usual premium they might charge on 1 ounce coins), with Gold Stackers being an exception.

If dealers are offering this coin in the $5-10 range over spot, I think it will offer investors a great opportunity to leverage off the popularity of the 1oz Lunar coins from the Mint, balanced with exposure to any future increase in the price of Silver.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Yes you read that title correctly, another very early lunar coin scoop for readers. The Year of the Goat only started in February this year, the Year of the Monkey doesn't start until February 8, 2016, but I have a scoop on the designs (description) for the 2017 Year of the Rooster Lunar Coin design from Perth Mint.

The Year of the Rooster doesn't start until January 28, 2017, though Perth Mint will likely be releasing their coins in early September 2016 the year prior (still around 13 months from now) as we've become accustomed.

Here is a preview of what we can expect from the Year of the Rooster design (my emphasis to highlight design specifics):

2017 Year of the Rooster - Gold Investor Coins

The design on the 2017 Year of the Rooster (1kg, 10oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz, 1/4oz, 1/10oz, 1/20oz) gold bullion coins, consists of a pattern of lines forming a circle immediately inside the rim, surrounding a representation of a rooster and several clumps of grass. The coin includes the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Rooster’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘jī’ and meaning rooster and the initials of the designer Aleysha Howarth ‘AH’.

2017 Year of the Rooster - Silver Investor Coins

The design on the 2017 Year of the Rooster (10kg, 1kg, 10oz, 5oz, 2oz, 1oz, 1/2oz) silver bullion coins, consists of a pattern of lines forming a circle immediately inside the rim, surrounding a representation of a rooster, hen and chicks, and several clumps of grass. The coin includes the following inscriptions ‘Year of the Rooster’, the Pinyin pictograph pronounced ‘jī’ and meaning rooster and the initials of the designer Tom Vaughan ‘TV’.

For the 2017 Year of the Rooster designs from Perth Mint the designers will differ between the Gold and Silver coin releases. This will be a break from at least the last 3 releases (Monkey, Goat and Horse) where the designer was the same for both coins.

To provide a little background on the designers of the 2017 Year of the Rooster coins you can read an interview and profile of Perth Mint Designer Aleysha Howarth here. Amongst other coins she designed the eight coins which form the Australian Opal series. You can read more about Tom Vaughan in an interview from a few years back here. He was also the designer for both Perth Mint Year of the Horse bullion coins as detailed in their descriptions covered in an earlier post.

I will be covering all the 2017 Year of the Rooster releases on this site in around 12 months time, in the meantime, we have only just started seeing the Year of the Monkey coins released which I will continue to cover here.

The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled their range of 2016 Year of the Monkey Lunar Coins. Either their range has shrunk from last year or there are still more to be loaded on their website. You can read about previous year releases in the posts below:

Treasures of Oz has the new years coins (2016 Lunar Monkey) listed for pre-order on their website and looks to have expanded the range from previous years offerings. See some of those available pictured below or visit their site for more information and to place a pre-order.

Their description for the coins covers the various releases:

YEAR OF THE MONKEY

An ancient Chinese proverb says “Even a tiger cannot beat a crowd of monkeys.” Those born in the Year of the Monkey are loyal and devoted to their families and friends.

As social individuals with effusive charm and incredible luck, they love to be the center of attention and are always friendly to people they meet. They thrive with a tight-knit family and a close circle of friends. With their sharp wits and minds, and the ability to be excellent listeners, they easily attract a large following.

Once they make a lifelong commitment, they are faithful companions, and make excellent teachers and parents.

MONKEY FAMILY - Continuing the popular series

Tokelau’s Monkey Family coins beautifully capture these qualities of parenting and teaching with the mother and her young son. The design has been beautifully rendered by designer Alexander Vorodeyev, creator of the Lunar Family series issued by Treasures of Oz since 2012. The Monkey Family coins will be available in a variety of finishes with releases commencing mid July 2015.

PLAYFUL IN BAMBOO 1/2oz SILVER COLOUR PROOF COIN

Introducing a 1/2oz silver coin to the Lunar program for the first time, Tokelau has issued a delightful design featuring a troop of playful monkeys, excitedly exploring a bamboo grove, the design invokes the sense of freedom and the enjoyment of life so common to those born in the Year of the Monkey.

Mischievous and lighthearted, individuals born during this year are often the masters of practical jokes – but they are always well-intentioned. They perpetually crave fun activities and mental stimulation, and they truly know how to have a good time! Just as the monkeys on this coin enjoy a playful climb through the forest of bamboo, so does the Year of the Monkey bring a cheerful new outlook on life.

MIRROR MONKEYS – MASSIVE 65mm 1oz SILVER PROOF COIN

The intelligence and inquisitive nature of monkeys is highlighted on this large format 1oz silver coin. At an astounding 65mm in diameter, yet containing just 1oz pure silver, this coin is an excellent example of the Minter’s art. The coin is created in proof condition, with an intriguing mirror image finish – one side with the monkey in sculpted proof with a highly polished proof table, the other side with a frosted table and polished monkey. Minted by the Mint of Norway, with a tiny mintage, this Tokelau coin is definitely one to add to any lunar coin collection.

With the Lunar 5oz Series one of the world’s hottest programs, the 2016 $8 Lunar Monkey Gold-Plated 5oz Silver Proof is guaranteed to sell out at speed.

Mintage restricted to a mere 500 coins – sell-out certain!

Struck to Proof quality from FIVE OUNCES of 99.9% silver

Measures 65mm – and features precise selective gold-plating!

Set in a timber case with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Features individual edge-numbering

Interesting that Downies has gone with the monkey and peach theme, which is the way Perth Mint appears to be going given their description of upcoming lunar coin releases as linked below. Peaches (in Chinese mythology) are a symbol of immortality or a long life.

As usual I will be following the coming years lunar coin releases closely, so be sure to subscribe or favourite this site ready for the truckload of coins that are about to be released into the end of the year!